Hong Kong’s Domestic Workers Fight for Change

3/25/2013 6:31AM

Hong Kong’s top court ruled that foreign domestic helpers are ineligible for permanent-resident status no matter how long they live there. Eman Villanueva of the Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union talks with the WSJ’s Mariko Sanchanta about what’s next for these workers.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

I ... the the ... it's completely polarized Hong Kong ... the top court has ruled today ... that foreign maids are not entitled to permanent residency rights ... joining me today to discuss this is in on the menu and I ... was the head of the Filipino migrant workers Union here in Hong Kong ... and then thank so much for joining us and they've had a really busy day ... I mean how last was this ruling by the top court a surprise to you ... well not exactly we are ... somehow expecting booting would not be favorable ... we bowed Riviera anticipate that that that the costs of Vienna intense political pressure ... that this that ... brother Bob IDC issue ... of the court ... and may not ruled in favor of the foreign domestic workers but still you know after ... knowing it firsthand the reading the yet to be a really know the ... the ... what a final appeal ... aisle ... before so this bill fails ... way sad and then disappoint headband them ... in fact might play some Michael Lee described outside the court ... simply because we mean failed that ... said there's a reaffirmation from the port B Stein ... that foreign domestic workers can be treated unfairly in Hong Kong and I think that's the sad part yet ... now is that ... higher body that you can kill the still I know that legally this is the end of the road for you in Hong Kong ... could do but in the United Nations could you go to the International Labour ... Organization is there some higher tribunal ... that you could go to on the second then ... press Hong Kong where others ... areas in Asia ... what we are ... trying to do now is to get me yet ... the opinions of the international bodies to put more pressure on ... how the home of government ... that hopefully ... Gu for them to ... at least come up with some reforms that pool and improve the position the working condition ... other leading condition of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong for example like to ... be at two-week rule forcing foreign domestic workers to leave Hong Kong two weeks immediately after turning to the point ... that this place many foreign domestic workers ... in a very ... precarious situation um a relatable because ... I mean nobody wants to play ... again Sandy abuse because ... then they will be forced to be within two weeks if their employers ... terminate the contract ... more ... of an ... international attention here in Hong Kong may you and me will all be the ideal ... especially when they resent the ... adoption of Vienna ... Convention on domestic workers' rights ... in the EU twenty eleven ... and it's been in force that last year ... oh we can actually make use of these international platform through which ... the Harlem government to Institute ... reforms but traversing the routing of the quarter final of this I think that would be a long shot ... tummy little bit about your own story I know you've been in Hong Kong for twenty years ... you yourself are a domestic helper ... tell me a little bit about ... how long you been working here ... and whether you would want to apply for PR if you have the option ... well ... um ... actually I'm the and apply ice I submitted the application ... the last year already a year before ... um ... I've been here for the past twenty two years I write here when I was eighteen ... and I am stating Hong Kong that longer than I'd stayed in the Philippines ... I might go sit in Hong Kong Sam idea ... I mean my whole ... IBM now waking in Hong Kong unlike many other foreign domestic workers ... for the past three big games ... of foreign domestic workers have been serving ... the community of Hong Kong ... taking care of children and taking care of it held in the taking care of the state that the people ... of preparing before the end of taking care of the household and even taking care of their pets ... um ... and so we we we we think that we do not be said that such kind of treatment because we we have done nothing wrong ... to the people of Hong Kong ... are all the babies to take care of the psyche but the society's taking care of us ... and that that's really sad I guess that the new lasso domestic worker us the most they can ... and at the same time do my a Newark ... the men were bought at a time but thank you so much this is an issue that the Wall Street Journal and ... Hong Kong will continue to follow for more updates on this story to vote on our online poll ... is that it WS J dot com ... for Asia Today Ahmadi the Sanchanta